Lingle to visit 2 Asian nations

Gov. Linda Lingle is scheduled to lead a 12-day business trip to Indonesia and Japan next month.

The trip, scheduled June 9-22, intends to focus on security and emergency preparedness partnerships between Hawaii and Indonesia, and also promoting tourism and business opportunities with Japan, Lingle's office said in a news release.

Lingle will visit Jakarta, Indonesia, and Tokyo and Okinawa in Japan.

Among those who will join the governor at various stops along the trip are Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, state adjutant general; Marsha Wienert, state tourism liaison; Dr. Chiyome Fukino, state health director; Sandra Lee Kunimoto, director, Department of Agriculture; Kurt Kawafuchi, state tax director; J.P. Schmidt, state insurance commissioner; representatives from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Rex Johnson, president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority; Dr. Carl-Wilhelm Vogel, director, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii; and officials from the East-West Center.

Police honor 7 for contributions

The Honolulu Police Department honored seven people yesterday, naming Zane Hamrick and Harry Burt as top police officers for 2007.

Hamrick jumped into deep water to rescue a woman who fell into a sinkhole Oct. 15 near Kailua Beach Park.

Vincent O'Neill, a volunteer police chaplain for 30 years, was named Reserve Officer of the Year. He has helped thousands of HPD employees and their families in times of crisis, police said.

Police graphic artist Chun Yee is Civilian Employee of the Year -- recognized for his artistic talents, ability to work with others under stressful conditions and also for his artwork and printed materials for special projects.

Officer Antone Pacheco, Police Parent of the Year, has been a positive role model for his four children and youngsters in the community and has been instilling positive values as an officer, coach and church member, police said.

Deputy Prosecutor Rom Trader was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year for his commitment that has resulted in successful prosecutions, police said.

UH combines Hawaiian programs

The Hawaiian Language Program and the Center for Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa will combine to form the new School of Hawaiian Knowledge, dedicated to the study of Hawaiian language and culture.

The UH Board of Regents approved the reorganization yesterday. The merger will be effective July 1 and is designed to promote more interaction among the faculties of both programs, raise their visibility and make it easier to recruit and retain students. The students will also find it easier to coordinate their schedule of courses to include both programs.

The new school will have its own dean and will operate in the Hawaiian-studies building on Dole Street.

Police, Fire, Courts

Star-Bulletin staff

COURTESY PHOTOA 1993 Ford pickup truck collided head-on with a 2007 Ford Mustang convertible yesterday on Honoapiilani Highway. The crash snarled traffic on Maui for several hours. CLICK FOR LARGE

Head-on crash injures 3 on Maui

A two-car crash on Maui hospitalized three people yesterday and backed up traffic for several hours.

At about 6:11 a.m., a Lahaina-bound 1993 Ford pickup, driven by a 38-year-old man, crossed the center line and collided with a 2007 Ford Mustang convertible. The crash occurred on Honoapiilani Highway, on the Lahaina side of the tunnel.

The Mustang was driven by a 47-year-old California man, with a 46-year-old woman as his passenger. The pickup driver suffered facial and leg fractures. The condition of the others was not available yesterday afternoon.

The traffic backlog lasted until after 10 a.m. yesterday. All three victims had their seat belts on. Police said if they had not, the crash would have been fatal.

NORTH SHORE

Fisherman's body is found on shore

The body of a fisherman was found yesterday afternoon in the shoreline break in Haleiwa.

Police said a woman reported at 1 p.m. yesterday seeing an apparently lifeless body. Fire rescue and police searched the area and found the body a quarter-mile southeast of Papailoa Road in the shore break near 62-139 Kamehameha Highway.

Lifeguards were unable to resuscitate the man, police said.

The man's fishing pole, bags and identification were found on the beach, and his vehicle was found parked on Papailoa Road, police said.

There were no signs of foul play, according to police.

Drowning victim was California man

The Medical Examiner's Office identified the 27-year-old man who died after falling into a deep pool at Waimea Valley Audubon Center as Jay Lau of Oakland, Calif.

The cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning, according to the Medical Examiner's Office.

A fire official said Lau was climbing the rocks trying to pose for a photo next to a waterfall while his wife was down below ready to take his picture.

Attempts by the center's staff and firefighters using snorkels and masks to find Lau in the deep, murky water failed. Fire rescue crew using scuba gear retrieved Lau's body from a depth of 26 feet at the base of the falls, a fire official said.

LEEWARD OAHU

Woman assaulted after truck stolen

Police were looking for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a 25-year-old woman after he offered to help her find her stolen car.

The victim and her sister were at a beach park in Makaha at about 5 a.m. Tuesday when they noticed their truck had been stolen, police said. A man who identified himself as Ian offered the victim a ride to help locate the missing truck, police said.

The suspect stopped at Keaau Beach Park, where he allegedly sexually assaulted the victim. Police could not provide a description of the suspect.

WEST OAHU

Collision injures motorcyclist, 36

A 36-year-old Ewa Beach man was critically injured when he flew off his motorcycle after colliding with a white Chevrolet utility truck yesterday morning in Kapolei.

Police said the truck driver, a 53-year-old Mililani man, made a left turn into a private driveway off Komohana Street 600 feet west of Kalaeloa Boulevard. The motorcyclist was riding a black 2005 Harley-Davidson in the opposite direction on Komohana when the truck came into his path, and he crashed into the truck at 7:58 a.m.

Police said the motorcyclist might have been speeding, which could have contributed to the accident.

The motorcyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from the motorcycle and taken in critical condition to the Queen's Medical Center, police said. The truck driver was not injured.

HONOLULU

Child-enticement suspect is nabbed

Ivan Sakata was arrested Tuesday morning at Kahala Mall, where he allegedly arranged to pick up someone he thought was a 13-year-old girl whom he met in an Internet chat room. Instead he was met by police detectives, who arrested him.

Sakata allegedly arranged to meet the 13-year-old girl and planned to take her back to his apartment for sex. Bail was set at $25,000.